Pivoting and rotating elongated door handle

ABSTRACT

A door opening apparatus comprises an elongated rod joined pivotally, at one end to a U-shaped bracket, which, in turn, is joined pivotally to a mounting plate fixed to the surface of a door. The elongated rod normally hangs downwardly when not in use, but through its enablement for arcuate swivel movement within a U-shaped bracket, the rod may be pivoted over a 180 angular degrees of motion and rotated over a 360 angular degrees of motion. This permits the rod to be used to pull the door open and to one side of a wheel chair bound individual to facilitate moving through the doorway.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates generally to door handles and moreparticularly to an articulated door handle for use by individuals in awheel chair for manipulating a door that opens toward the wheel chair.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] The prior art teaches the use of door knobs and door handles foropening doors. These are well known in the prior art. However, thesedevices are designed for use by individuals with the use of their legsand who are in an upright attitude. The wheel chair bound individual isat a disadvantage when it is necessary to transit a portal closed by adoor that opens only toward the wheel chair. The wheel chair may berolled up to the door and the individual may be able to reach up andopen the door slightly using the door knob. However, opening the doorfurther is a daunting task since the wheel chair must be backed up whilepulling the door toward the chair. The problem is compounded when thedoor has an strong door closing mechanism attached and when there islittle room to roll the chair to one side of the door. There is no knownprior art for solving this difficulty. The present invention provides anelegant solution and provides further related advantages as described inthe following summary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention teaches certain benefits in constructionand use which give rise to the objectives described below.

[0006] A door opening apparatus for a wheel chair bound individualcomprises an elongated rod joined pivotally, at one end to a U-shapedbracket, which, in turn, is joined pivotally to a mounting plate fixedto the surface of a door. The elongated rod normally hangs downwardlywhen not in use, but through its enablement for arcuate swivel movementwithin a U-shaped bracket, the rod may be pivoted over a 180 angulardegrees of motion and rotated over a 360 angular degrees of motion. Thispermits the rod to be used to pull the door open and also, importantly,to one side of the wheel chair to facilitate moving through the doorway.The apparatus is useful only on the side of the door that moves towardthe person wishing to transit the doorway.

[0007] A primary objective of the present invention is to provide anapparatus and method of use of such apparatus that provides advantagesnot taught by the prior art.

[0008] Another objective is to provide such an invention capable offacilitating the pulling of a door toward a wheel chair so as tonavigate the doorway.

[0009] A further objective is to provide such an invention capable ofallowing a person in a wheel chair to move out of the way of a door whenopening it toward the wheel chair.

[0010] A still further objective is to provide such an invention capableof providing an extended reach to a person in a wheel chair so as toimprove doorway transit for such individuals.

[0011] Other features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following more detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way ofexample, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. Insuch drawings:

[0013]FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the preferred embodiment ofthe invention;

[0014]FIG. 2 is a perspective view thereof showing the manner in whichthe invention is used; and

[0015]FIG. 3 is a plan view thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The above described drawing figures illustrate the invention inat least one of its preferred embodiments, which is further defined indetail in the following description.

[0017] The present invention is a door opening apparatus for useprimarily by an individual confined to a wheel chair and providesadvantage to such individual. The apparatus comprises an elongated rigidmember 10, preferably a rod or tube of metal or hard plastic, andgenerally of between 2 and 4 feet in length and ½ to 3 inches indiameter, but other sizes may be used alternatively. This member 10 isjoined pivotally, at one end 12, to a means for fixed mounting 20 of theelongated rigid member 10 to a door surface 32. The fixed mounting means20 is preferably a U-shaped bracket 22 joined pivotally, to a mountingplate 24 as shown in FIG. 3. The fixed mounting means 20 is enabled fordirecting movement of the elongated rigid member 10 pivotally about theone end 12 thereof, and also rotationally about a longitudinal axis 14of the elongated rigid member 10. This motion relationship isaccomplished through the use of pivot pins 15 and 17. The surfacecontact area between U-shaped bracket 22 and mounting plate 24, and thetightness of the pin 17 should be sufficient to eliminate tilting motionof U-shaped bracket 22 while allowing free rotation of U-shaped bracket22. The invention may also be considered, in a further embodiment, toalso comprise a door 40 where the fixed mounting means 20 is mounted toa surface of the door 40, by fasteners 26, in a position adjacent to adoor latching means 42 of the door 40. Such door latching means 42 maybe a door knob or door handle assembly controlling latching element 44,as shown in FIG. 2.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 3, the elongated member 10 is pivotally attachedto the U-shaped bracket 22, while the U-shaped bracket, in turn, isjoined rotationally to the mounting plate 24, the mounting plateproviding means, such as the four holes shown and screws shown in FIG.3, for fixed surface fastening of the mounting plate 24 to a surface 32of the door 40 adjacent to a door latching means 42. Most doors have ametal surface plate 50 positioned as shown in FIG. 1. In a preferredembodiment of the present invention this metal surface plate 50 ispreferably extended downwardly, as shown, to provide a surface forimproved mounting of the present invention mounting plate 24. Theelongated rod 10 thereby is enabled for arcuate swivel movement withinthe U-shaped bracket 22 over a 180 angular degrees of motion and is alsofacilitated for rotational movement along with the U-shaped bracket 22relative to the mounting plate 24 over 360 angular degrees of motion. Ina further embodiment, the elongated rod 10 provides a hinged knee 19positioned, as shown in FIG. 3, on the elongated rod 10 so that the rod10 may be extended at an angle around the open edge of the door forimproved manipulation of the door and for holding the door 40 ajar whiletraversing it. The elongate rod 10 is improved through the use of arubber bumper cup 13 applied to its distal end, as shown in FIG. 3. Thiscup 13 provides an improved grip by the user and also softens impactbetween the rod 10 and door surface 32 when the rod 10 is released.Preferably hinge pin 15 is set so as to provide a friction fit betweenrod 10 and U-shaped bracket 22, so that under normal use of the door therod 10 does not tend to move and cause frequent impacts with the door40.

[0019] In use, the wheel chair bound individual first unlatches the door40 using door latch means 42. Once the door is unlatched, the individualgrasps the elongated rigid member 10 at its other end 16 as best seen inFIG. 1, and draws it upwardly as seen in FIG. 2. The chair is backed upand to one side of the door, if possible, as shown in FIG. 2 whilepivoting the elongated rigid member 10 to the opening side of the door.When in this position, the door 40 may be held ajar, even when a strongdoor closer tends to keep the door shut, while the chair is moved towardthe portal, and at that position the elongate member 10 may be droppedwhile the door is held open with the same hand while moving (rolling)through the doorway 45.

[0020] While the invention has been described with reference to at leastone preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by thoseskilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather,the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction withthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A door opening apparatus comprising an elongatedrod joined pivotally, at one end thereof, to a U-shaped bracket, theU-shaped bracket, in turn, joined pivotally to a mounting plate, themounting plate providing means for fixed surface fastening of themounting plate to a door surface; the elongated rod thereby enabled forarcuate swivel movement within the U-shaped bracket over a 180 angulardegrees of motion and rotational movement with the U-shaped bracketrelative to the mounting plate over a 360 angular degrees of motion. 2.A combination comprising a door opening apparatus and a door, the dooropening apparatus including an elongated rod joined pivotally, at oneend thereof, to a U-shaped bracket, the U-shaped bracket, in turn,joined pivotally to a mounting plate, the mounting plate providing meansfor fixed surface fastening of the mounting plate to a surface of thedoor adjacent a door unlatching means of the door; the elongated rodthereby enabled for arcuate swivel movement within the U-shaped bracketover a 180 angular degrees of motion and rotational movement with theU-shaped bracket relative to the mounting plate over a 360 angulardegrees of motion.
 3. A door opening apparatus for use by an individualconfined to a wheel chair, the apparatus comprising an elongated rigidmember of between 2 and 4 feet in length, the elongated rigid memberjoined pivotally, at one end thereof, to a means for fixed mounting ofthe elongated rigid member to a door surface; the fixed mounting meansenabled for directing movement of the elongated rigid member pivotallyabout the one end thereof, and rotationally about a longitudinal axis ofthe elongated rigid member.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 furthercomprising a door, the fixed mounting means joined to a surface of thedoor adjacent to a door latching means of the door.
 5. The apparatus ofclaim 4 further comprising a metal surface plate extensive for receivingthe door latching means and the mounting plate.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 3 further comprising a hinged knee positioned for extending theelongated rod at an angle around an open edge of the door.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 3 further comprising a rubber bumper cup applied at adistal end of the elongated rod.
 8. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein ahinge pin is set so as to provide a friction fit between the elongatedrod and the U-shaped bracket enabling resistance to movement of theelongated rod during use of the door.